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I agree on the wr. There has to be another big body out there. I also don’t like the idea of a 2nd round rb. Thr pff mock is interesting. 3 tackles.

Good stuff in that post! I'd be a happy camper if we can get Guyton at 30 and he turns out as good as they say he can. Wide receiver speculations were intriguing though I don't want anybody who had a 12.5% drop rate in college. It's going to be a tough choice should it come down to taking either Guyton or McAllister.

https://www.nfl.com/news/seven-round-2024-nfl-mock-draft-round-1 https://nfldraft.theringer.com/mock-draft?list=solak

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-mock-draft-pff-analysts-all-seven-rounds https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-mock-draft-with-one-major-trade-up-its-a-qb-party-in-the-top-5-140015921.html

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-eight-trades-include-giants-landing-surprise-qb-as-six-signal-callers-go-in-round-1/ https://www.nfl.com/news/eric-edholm-2024-nfl-mock-draft-3-0-six-qbs-three-trades-eagles-move-up-for-cb

When the NFL draft descends upon Detroit on Thursday, it will mark the 89th time the league’s franchises have gathered to select newly eligible players. It will also mark both a turning point and an important juncture for the Ravens. “This whole draft landscape has changed,” general manager Eric DeCosta said earlier this month. He was referring to the impact name, image and likeness deals, along with the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA in 2020 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, are having on this year’s class. And, at least in the case of NIL, likely future ones, too. “There are less players in the draft this year,” he said. “There are less probably ‘draftable’ players this year on our board, less juniors, less underclassmen.” Indeed. Because of the perfect storm of the pandemic and newfound financial gains for players who might previously have been inclined to enter the draft early, this year’s class includes just 58 players who still had college eligibility remaining. That’s the fewest since 2011. Only five years ago, there were a record 135 players who entered the draft early. How all of it impacts the Ravens remains to be seen, but with nine picks this year and a projected 11 in 2025, the upcoming drafts will be particularly important for Baltimore for a couple of reasons. For one, they lost more than a dozen players, including many significant contributors, in free agency or other roster moves from last season’s 13-4 team that reached the AFC championship game. They brought back some key contributors and added new players, including four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, but replicating the kind of success they had with their free agent signings last offseason is anything but a guarantee. For another, the Ravens’ handful of core stars are only going to get more expensive over the next three years and beyond. For example, quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson ($32.4 million), inside linebacker Roquan Smith ($13.5 million) and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike ($11 million) already account for more than 20% of the team’s salary cap this year after signing lucrative extensions. Meanwhile, veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey ($22.9 million) has the second-biggest cap hit on the roster behind Jackson, and All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum will become eligible for extensions beginning next year. That means a handful of players will chew up an increasingly larger percentage of cap space, thus leaving less money for all the Ravens’ other needs. Enter this year’s draft, which isn’t particularly deep, and next year’s, which should be much more so, especially at running back. That’s a position Baltimore might address with Henry only signed for two years and already 30 years old. “[This is what happens] when you have a quarterback no longer on a rookie deal plus a lot of other really, really good players on your roster who have already been paid or are soon to be paid,” ESPN draft analyst and former NFL scout Field Yates told The Baltimore Sun. “But this is all part of a larger, more complicated web that they have always done an excellent job of managing. The draft is going to end up being a friend in a lot of ways.” Yates added that he also doesn’t sense panic from Baltimore amid its current landscape. DeCosta isn’t worried, either, and is confident about how he’ll be able to replenish all those missing parts. “We’ve always been a team that’s built through the draft primarily,” said DeCosta, who will oversee his sixth draft for Baltimore this year. “We feel that’s the best way to build your team long-term from a cost standpoint — obviously cheaper players, but also young players that you know a lot about who can develop and become good players. “We see this year’s draft and we see next year’s draft as real opportunities for us to begin to build that depth up again.” Baltimore Ravens training camp, Aug. 3Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore SunRavens general manager Eric DeCosta, from left, and coach John Harbaugh talk with owner Steve Bisciotti during training camp. DeCosta jokingly described trading for draft picks in future years as “The Bisciotti Reign of Terror.” (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The good news is that this year’s class is deep in some areas, and they align with the holes the Ravens need to fill, particularly on the offensive line, wide receiver and to some extent cornerback. Baltimore has both starting guard spots open after John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler left in free agency. Right tackle Morgan Moses, meanwhile, was traded to the New York Jets. There is also a need at cornerback, with question marks beyond Humphrey and Brandon Stephens, who is set to become a free agent after this season. With three picks among the top 100, including No. 30 in the first round and No. 62 in the second, finding a starting caliber offensive lineman, a cornerback and wide receiver who can contribute immediately will likely be a priority. “Cornerback and offensive tackle are not exactly spots in free agency where a lot of great players hit the open market, so the Ravens might feel their best way to attack those two positions is in the draft,” Yates said. “The offensive tackle class I do think there are possibilities of players that last late into the late portion of the second round, but both of those [positions] are areas where 30 is the only place where I feel confident they could address one of those two issues.” Fellow ESPN draft analyst and Baltimore native and resident Mel Kiper Jr. agrees, which is why he projects Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry to the Ravens in the first round and Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe to them with the 62nd overall pick in Round 2. “Cornerback is their biggest need and the offensive line would be right there,” Kiper told The Sun. “Kool-Aid ran 4.47 [seconds in the 40-yard dash] with that Jones [foot] fracture [when] everyone thought he would be a 4.55 guy. He was better than that, even with the injury. He’s been a starter since Day 1. He was better than [teammate] Terrion Arnold most of his career … Kool-Aid at the end of the first round, that’s a heck of a pick there in terms of where they were, where they are now in terms of value. “Cooper Beebe can play left tackle, right tackle, but he’s got shorter arms than I prefer; that’s why I moved him down into the late second. He’s more of a guard I believe in the NFL. … That gives them the versatile piece that they could use as a starter at guard or kick to right tackle.” Given DeCosta’s penchant for viewing draft picks as lottery tickets, there’s also the possibility the Ravens could instead trade back out of the first round to acquire more picks. “There’s a way you could work it where you could move out of the first round and all of a sudden you could get an additional several picks and still get a good corner,” Kiper said. Added Yates: “There is always the possibility for a team wanting to secure the fifth-year option for a quarterback pick at the end of the first round. Any of those teams picking in the last five or six spots are worth watching.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | 2024 NFL mock draft (Version 5.0): Ravens beat writer Brian Wacker predicts the first round Baltimore Ravens | NFL won’t discipline Ravens WR Zay Flowers after investigating alleged domestic violence incident Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, M&T Bank combine to donate $20 million to College Track, an education nonprofit Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Former Terps, River Hill star Beau Brade leans on faith, work ethic entering NFL draft | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins signing with Chargers, reuniting with Greg Roman Of course, it depends on the perceived value of those picks in DeCosta’s eyes when it comes to acquiring them, particularly when he’s already said he does not view this as a deep class. “It’s great to have additional picks,” he said. “You certainly have to have players that you covet and that you want to draft. “You could have 15 picks, and sometimes you’re there at the end of the draft and you’re looking at the [board and you have no idea who you want to pick. You just don’t see anybody that you really covet. I always think about it as, ‘What picks do you need to get the players that you want to take?’ You can have some great picks, but if the board doesn’t fall the right way, and you’re looking at a bunch of players that aren’t any better than the players you have on your roster, those picks don’t really help you very much. “I like the idea of having more picks, but I want to have more picks in a specific range in the draft.” Which could mean the Ravens might not end up using nine picks after all if, for example, they decide to move some of their late-round picks in exchange for picks next year. “We’ve done it a couple of times, but that’s always an interesting thing,” DeCosta said. “I think [owner] Steve [Bisciotti] would love us to do that. He’s excited about that. His idea would be — not to give anything away — but he has what he calls ‘The Bisciotti Reign of Terror,’ and that would basically be that you trade a seventh-round pick in any given year for a sixth-round pick next year, and then take that sixth-round pick and trade it for a five, and then trade that five for a four. And so in seven or eight years, you’d have a first-round pick. We’ve always talked about that, but we never get to that point.” Asked how often it has worked, DeCosta laughed and said, “That’s why it’s called ‘The Bisciotti Reign of Terror.’ It’s unique.” A lot like this year’s draft. View the full article

With less than a week before the 2024 NFL draft begins Thursday night in Detroit, Ravens beat writer Brian Wacker predicts all 32 picks in the first round. 1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams, QB, Southern California After Chicago traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is the next man up in the Bears’ seemingly never-ending search for a franchise quarterback. 2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU With comparisons to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for his dual-threat ability, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner gives Washington its franchise quarterback. 3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said there’s “no ceiling” for the 2022 ACC Player of the Year. With Daniels off the board, New England sticks with Maye. 4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State The consensus best receiver, and perhaps best overall prospect, Harrison won’t get by the receiver-needy Cardinals. 5. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU Coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz give quarterback Justin Herbert a much-needed target who has drawn comparisons to the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase. 6. New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington Another team that desperately needs a wide receiver and an injection of life on offense after running back Saquon Barkley bolted for division rival Philadelphia, the Giants snag Odunze, who has drawn comparisons to Davante Adams and Larry Fitzgerald. 7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame With second-year quarterback Will Levis and the addition of receiver Calvin Ridley, the Titans’ biggest focus will be improving what was one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season. The best tackle prospect in the draft helps them do so immediately. 8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama To help a defense that was 26th in pass-rush win rate (37.6%) and last in quarterback pressure percentage (.249), the Falcons get the best pass rusher in a class light on them. 9. Chicago Bears: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State What better way to protect your No. 1 pick and franchise quarterback than by taking a tackle who didn’t give up a sack in college and grades as a highly effective run blocker? Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL won’t discipline Ravens WR Zay Flowers after investigating alleged domestic violence incident Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, M&T Bank combine to donate $20 million to College Track, an education nonprofit Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Former Terps, River Hill star Beau Brade leans on faith, work ethic entering NFL draft | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins signing with Chargers, reuniting with Greg Roman Baltimore Ravens | As Ravens offseason workouts begin, new RB Derrick Henry has one goal: ‘Hold that trophy up’ 10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia After the Jets added right tackle Morgan Moses and guard John Simpson from the Ravens to help protect Aaron Rodgers, they give the veteran quarterback an elite pass-catching tight end who is also a capable blocker. 11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan Kirk Cousins left for the Falcons in free agency, so the Vikings get his replacement in the national championship-winning quarterback. Don’t be surprised if Minnesota trades up to ensure it, either. 12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon With Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh and without another pick until the third round, Denver can’t afford to wait and takes last season’s FBS leader in completion percentage (.774). 13. Las Vegas Raiders: Troy Fautanu, OT/G, Washington A native of nearby Henderson, Nevada, Fautanu gives Raiders coach Antonio Pierce a plug-and-play tackle who helped block for the nation’s second-best passing offense (343.7 yards per game) last season. Fautanu was also part of a unit that won the Joe Moore Award recognizing the country’s top offensive line. 14. New Orleans Saints: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State A first-team All-American and the Big Ten Conference’s Offensive Lineman of the Year, Fashanu gives the Saints the starting-caliber tackle they need. 15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama With the Colts ranking 23rd in yards per pass attempt allowed last season, the need is obvious. Arnold allowed a completion rate of 52% and recorded five interceptions with 13 pass breakups last season. 16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas New coach Mike Macdonald saw the success he had in Baltimore with Justin Madubuike and gets another disruptive force in the middle of the defense in Murphy, who had career highs in tackles (29), tackles for loss (8 1/2), sacks (5) and quarterback hurries (7) last season. 17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo The Jaguars had one of the league’s worst pass defenses last season, ranking 26th in passing yards allowed per game and 19th in completion percentage allowed. Mitchell fits the bill as an athletic lockdown corner who stood out at the Senior Bowl. 18. Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham, OT, Alabama Latham’s size (6-foot-6, 342 pounds) and strength is a good investment in keeping quarterback Joe Burrow upright. Over the past two seasons as the Crimson Tide’s starting right tackle, he allowed only two sacks and four quarterback hits. 19. Los Angeles Rams: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA Latu, who led the FBS last season in tackles for loss (21 1/2) and tied for fourth in sacks (13), provides an immediate boost to a Rams defense that ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in sacks and bottom third in quarterback pressures. 20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU New Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson gets immediate help with Thomas, who had 1,177 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns last season. The LSU star is fast, hitting 22.91 mph on a go route at the scouting combine to lead all receivers. 21. Miami Dolphins: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State After losing Christian Wilkins and Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency and with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips working their way back from injury, Miami needs help up front. Verse is a versatile an experienced edge rusher who would be a good fit with new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. 22. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa The Eagles are one of a handful of teams DeJean reportedly met with on a top-30 visit, and his versatility to play corner or safety makes him a tantalizing option. An explosive athlete who can play all over the field, DeJean had seven interceptions, 13 passes defended, five sacks and three touchdowns in three seasons in Iowa. 23. Minnesota Vikings (from Houston via Cleveland): Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois After addressing their offense, the Vikings turn to defense and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Newton recorded a team-high 7 1/2 sacks last season and led all of FBS with four blocked kicks. 24. Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia While Mims has limited experience and played right tackle at Georgia, he has the athleticism and skill to protect the blindside of quarterback Dan Prescott after the departure of Tyron Smith in free agency. Dallas could also plug Mims in at right tackle if it felt more comfortable with 2022 first-round pick Tyler Smith sliding over to the left side. 25. Green Bay Packers: Graham Barton, G/C, Duke With some turnover up front, the Packers get a versatile player in Barton, who can play anywhere along the offensive line but is projected to line up on the interior given his relatively short arms. That includes center, which would allow the Packers to keep Zach Tom at tackle. 26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State Given a deep offensive line class, the Buccaneers target a pass rusher early instead. Robinson’s stats aren’t great — 11 1/2 sacks the past two seasons, including four in 2023 — but the Maryland transfer does have first-step quickness, athleticism and a strong motor. 27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Darius Robinson, EDGE/DT, Missouri After recording the third-fewest sacks (33) in the league last season, the Cardinals land a versatile pass rusher who has played on the interior as well as the outside. Robinson had 8 1/2 sacks last season. 28. Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas With Stefon Diggs traded to the Houston Texans, Buffalo gets its “X” receiver replacement in Mitchell, a 6-2, 205-pound speedster with a big catch radius who can beat press coverage and make an immediate impact. 29. Detroit Lions: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama McKinstry is represented by the same firm as Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, had a top-30 visit with Detroit and is a versatile, intelligent corner who can help shore up a secondary that is on the rise after adding Carlton Davis III. 30. Ravens: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma It would not be a surprise to see the Ravens trade out of this spot — either back into Round 2 or possibly up the board to snag an even higher ranked tackle. But if they stay put and select Guyton, they get a large and athletic player who can immediately fill the need at right tackle and eventually move to the left side. Guyton didn’t allow a sack in more than 350 pass-blocking snaps at right tackle last season for the Sooners. 31. San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan, OT/G, Arizona The offensive line is the biggest area of need for the 49ers and Morgan checks a lot of boxes given his versatility to play guard or tackle. He’s also fast for his size, which speaks to his ability to pull and get to the second level on running plays, and graded as solid pass blocker. 32. Kansas City Chiefs: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia An elite route runner who is savvy at getting open, quick out of his breaks and capable of picking up yards after the catch, the sure-handed McConkey would be a welcome addition to quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ offense. View the full article

If they pick up his option before the draft I think they won't take a receiver on day one or two. If not, I think they'll press ahead and pick one even if there is a few days before his option expires.

Well, at the very least I hope Zay learned a big lesson here.

The league announced that it found insufficient evidence to punish Flowers, per Espn

Eric on who he thinks will be the next break out player like Brandon Stephens was, was quite telling, perhaps. He said Bateman, that they feel they had too many receivers last year to get him the ball. But they feel comfortable this year with Bateman, Zay, Mark and Isaiah. So, maybe he is telling the truth, and they will NOT, go after a receiver via trade, nor reach for one in the draft. However, this could also be a smoke screen, Bateman is on the final year of his rookie deal, pick up his option or not in a week and a half... Now, Bateman looks great in his work out video, now going on year two removed from the Lis Frank injury, a time when most who suffered this injury usually rebound. Should be interesting.

Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers will not face discipline from the NFL after a police investigation into an alleged domestic incident earlier this year, the league announced Thursday. “Following a review, the NFL concluded there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that Zay Flowers engaged in any activity that violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy,” the NFL said in a statement. “There will be no action taken by the league and Flowers remains eligible to participate in all team activities.” The news comes after The Baltimore Sun reported in February that Baltimore County Police suspended the investigation that was connected to Flowers without any criminal charges. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, M&T Bank combine to donate $20 million to College Track, an education nonprofit Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Former Terps, River Hill star Beau Brade leans on faith, work ethic entering NFL draft | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins signing with Chargers, reuniting with Greg Roman Baltimore Ravens | As Ravens offseason workouts begin, new RB Derrick Henry has one goal: ‘Hold that trophy up’ Baltimore Ravens | ‘We’re standing up’: Former Ravens RB Willis McGahee pleased with latest ruling on NFL disability lawsuit In January, a woman told police in Acton, Massachusetts, about a “violent domestic incident” in Owings Mills on Jan. 16, in which the “suspect’s brother also drew a firearm.” She declined to name the suspect, other than to say he is an “NFL player.” The woman told police in Massachusetts that she was “physically assaulted” and left with “multiple bruises,” according to the Baltimore County report, and in that interview said she was “living with her boyfriend in a townhouse outside Baltimore, Maryland, when the incident became physical and violent.” She did not take Acton Police up on an offer of a protective order. At the NFL scouting combine in February, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said the team was continuing to assess the situation with Flowers, who led the team in catches and receiving yards as a rookie last season. Ravens team president Sashi Brown said at last month’s NFL owners meetings that there has been no change to the team’s “zero-tolerance” policy on domestic violence. The Ravens began the voluntary portion of their offseason program earlier this week, with players allowed to begin working out at the facility on Monday. Flowers, who has yet to speak with the media since news of the investigation was first reported, was among those in attendance. View the full article

Bothbrothers are all about nepotism

LA Chargers are becoming the Ravens West Coast Branch. Will be interesting to see Gus and JK back in a Roman offense.

The Ravens and M&T Bank will each donate $10 million to help a national college access nonprofit, College Track, open an education center in Baltimore that seeks to assist under-served youth as they graduate high school and college. The combined $20 million gift is part of a $40 million donation to the Ravens College Access Program over the next decade: $10 million from M&T Bank and $30 million from The Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation and the Ravens, which will be split between three education programs, College Bound, Bridges Baltimore and College Track. College Track, which first started in California, has 12 locations, including one in Prince George’s County — established with the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation — and in Southeast Washington. Ravens president Sashi Brown, who’d first heard of College Track just before the coronavirus pandemic, visited both of those Washington-area locations. One of the things that drew the Ravens specifically to College Track, Brown said, is “that they actually create a physical space where students actually go and the programming is housed there.” Shirley Collado, president and CEO of College Track, said the Baltimore center will eventually support 300 to 350 Baltimore City public high school students. College Track makes a “10-year promise,” according to a news release, and will continue to assist students as they graduate college. Ninety percent of College Track’s students are first-generation college students and 84% come from underserved communities, according to the release. The center is tentatively expected to open in May 2025, but it is not yet publicly known where in Baltimore it will be located. “We target students that are constantly overlooked and underestimated,” said Collado, the former president of Ithaca College. “We want students that are often left behind but have fire in their belly and can do the work if they have the right resources and support.” The Ravens’ venue has been named M&T Bank Stadium since 2003 and, following an extension of that naming rights agreement last year, will keep that name until at least 2037. Augie Chiasera, the bank’s regional president for Greater Baltimore, said their donation is a continuation of their partnership with the Ravens. “We have shared values, we care deeply about the city, and that’s particularly true when it comes to educating our youngest citizens,” he said. The Ravens have a lease to play at state-owned M&T Bank Stadium, which is currently undergoing significant state-funded renovations, until at least 2037. The Maryland Stadium Authority is spending $430 million in bonds, to be paid off with public money generated by the state lottery, over the next three years to bolster the stadium with new suites and clubs, as well as expanded concourses and bathrooms. View the full article

I wish him the best but he just couldn't stay healthy and he wants to be the feature back.

Beau Brade is past the nervous stage of the NFL draft, which begins next week in Detroit. He just wants to get started on his pro career. As far as he is concerned, it’s time for a new scheme, playbook, home and opportunity. “It’s all part of a cool process,” said Brade, a Clarksville native and former University of Maryland safety. “It’s been a long process and I’ve been waiting for some time, so I’m just ready to get that full-time job and start playing. “I’m not nervous anymore. I’m just interested to see where I could end up across the country.” The consensus on Brade, a former standout at River Hill, is that he will be picked anywhere from the third to the fifth round. That depends on whether there are any “runs” on safeties, which is not as deep of a position as offensive line or wide receiver and is not considered as valuable across the league. But the two things that stick out about Brade are his work ethic and aggression. He wants to hit. He likes collisions. In the Terps’ 2023 season, the 6-foot, 203-pound safety recorded a team-high 75 tackles, including 48 solo. He also broke up seven passes, forced a fumble and had one interception. With the draft nearly one week away, Brade has visited the Washington Commanders and the Ravens, who need someone to replace Geno Stone after he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. Like current Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, Brade can play near the line of scrimmage or off the ball. And like most college players from Maryland, Brade learned the game while studying Ray Lewis, the Ravens’ Hall of Fame middle linebacker. “I grew up a Ray fan,” Brade said. “He was that guy I tried to be so I tried to hit people hard like Ray Lewis, and I had that work ethic too.” Maryland safety Beau Brade participated in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, in January. (Butch Dill/AP) Brade is a Christian and there are no pretenses about his faith. He talks about it openly, and the challenges and temptations he faces in college life these days. On the field, though, the aggression surfaces. Those who have watched him play consistently this season emphasize his ability to dissect plays and slip into gaps to make tackles. He plays with force, which allowed the Terps’ cornerbacks to be more aggressive knowing that Brade was there on the back end. But his strength also appears to be his weakness. He doesn’t always take the proper pursuit angles and is vulnerable to giving up big plays off play-action fakes. Brade also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds, which is serviceable but not ideal for playing in the deep third of the field. His versatility is his primary asset. “I feel like part of my upside is that I’ve had three different defensive coordinators my whole time in Maryland,” Brade said. ​”Initially, it was really tough. After my junior year, I started to see the bright side and learn from different coaches that are experts in their crafts. “I feel like in the long run it made me better, but at the time it was hard to really create a relationship with someone that’s there for less than 12 months.” Doug Kapustin / Baltimore Sun Media GroupRiver Hill senior safety Beau Brade was named Howard County football Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. (Doug Kapustin/Freelance) According to Brade, 17 colleges recruited him out of high school, including several from the Atlantic Coast Conference such as North Carolina, Syracuse and Wake Forest, as well as Big Ten power Michigan. But he chose Maryland because of the school’s business department and because it was close to home. The Terps originally offered him a spot as a running back before allowing him to play safety. At the time of his graduation, his 450 career tackles at River Hill ranked second in Howard County history. But it’s the shot at the NFL that has him buzzing, not nervous. “I believe my faith and my work ethic, which were instilled in me by my parents [Ron and Angela], are my biggest assets,” Brade said. “That’s what has gotten me to this point in my life and really pushes me. I just want a shot with a team that is aggressive and has a shot at winning the Super Bowl. “The Ravens have been a winning organization for a long time and they have a lot of grit about them. I grew up a big Ravens fan but I’d be happy with anywhere right now. I just want to get to work.” View the full article

Looks like JK Dobbins is off to join Gus Edwards and Greg Roman with the Chargers.

Former Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins is headed west. Dobbins is planning to sign a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, his agency LAA Sports confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday evening. The move reunites the 2020 second-round draft pick out of Ohio State with his former offensive coordinator in Baltimore, Greg Roman, who was hired by the Chargers for the same role in February. The 25-year-old running back is just the latest former Raven to migrate to Los Angeles. Running back Gus Edwards, fullback Ben Mason, tight end Hayden Hurst and center Bradley Bozeman all joined the Chargers after previously playing in Baltimore. Former Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz bolted for Los Angeles earlier this year as well, taking over as the team’s general manager, while Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s younger brother Jim was named the Chargers’ coach in January. Though his Ravens career ended unceremoniously, Dobbins was one of the NFL’s most efficient running backs when healthy, rushing for 1,347 yards and 12 touchdowns on 234 carries across three seasons. But over the past three years, he has been sidelined for 42 of 51 games because of injuries, including 16 games last year after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1. Dobbins missed all of 2021 after tearing the ACL, LCL and meniscus in his left knee, along with his hamstring, in the preseason finale, and he missed half of 2022 after another knee surgery. Last year, after he sat out of team drills for three weeks at the start of training camp and expressed his displeasure over the lack of a contract extension, Dobbins hit the practice field in mid-August and said that he felt 100% healthy for the first time in three years. He also said he wanted to finish his career in Baltimore. “I do think that healthy, I can be one of the top backs in the league,” Dobbins said at the time. “I just gotta prove it and I am gonna prove it. One day, one day it will happen.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | As Ravens offseason workouts begin, new RB Derrick Henry has one goal: ‘Hold that trophy up’ Baltimore Ravens | ‘We’re standing up’: Former Ravens RB Willis McGahee pleased with latest ruling on NFL disability lawsuit Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens would be wise to target Ed Reed’s cousin, Trey Taylor, in NFL draft | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens signing Deonte Harty, 2019 All-Pro kick returner and former Archbishop Curley star Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens star Terrell Suggs arrested, charged with assault in Arizona after allegedly threatening to kill another driver But after catching a short pass early in the third quarter of the season opener against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium, he suffered a torn Achilles as he was tackled short of the end zone. Dobbins missed the remainder of the season, and the Ravens moved on this offseason by signing four-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry. Still, when Dobbins has been on the field, he has been effective. His career average of 5.8 yards per carry is the highest among running backs with at least 200 carries since 2020. Now, he’ll join his former backfield mate Edwards, as well as third-year back Isaiah Spiller and reserves Elijah Dotson and Jaret Patterson, as he tries to rekindle his career yet again. The Ravens are set to play the Chargers in SoFi Stadium next season. View the full article

New Ravens running back Derrick Henry strolled out of the team’s weight room at the Owings Mills facility alongside Zay Flowers, the sleeves of his workout T-shirt struggling to contain his biceps and his 6-foot-2, 247-pound frame dwarfing the second-year receiver — as well as the sun trying to poke through a nearby window. Monday marked the start of Baltimore’s offseason workout program and Henry, when not running over and past would-be tacklers, lives to work out, so it was hardly a surprise that he was in attendance for the voluntary sessions after signing with the Ravens last month. “I’m the new guy,” Henry said Wednesday in a soft tone that belies his size. “I wanna make sure I show up, show my teammates, show the organization that I’m committed. I wanna come and put the work in, be around my teammates and develop that relationship with them and just put the work in and work as hard as I can when I’m in the building.” The nine-week offseason program consists of three phases — the first spans two weeks and covers strength and conditioning along with meetings; the second includes on-field workouts; and the third includes organized team activities. All of them are voluntary, until a three-day mandatory minicamp in mid-June. But for Henry, along with quarterback Lamar Jackson, inside linebacker Roquan Smith, center Tyler Linderbuam and others, it provides a good opportunity to begin the process of a new season and put last year’s mistake-filled AFC championship game further in the rearview mirror. “It was definitely very tough, after all you go through throughout the year physically, emotionally,” Smith said. “To come up short, it sucks. “Obviously last season is last season. … I think everyone is very excited about what all we have coming forward, the potential that we have with this team, with added pieces, and I’m sure throughout the draft and throughout the rest of the offseason we’re gonna add more pieces.” Henry, literally and figuratively, is the biggest one. A four-time Pro Bowl selection and NFL leader in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2019 and 2020, he is easily the best backfield mate Jackson, the reigning and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, has had in what will be his seventh season in Baltimore. Only once in Jackson’s tenure has he had a 1,000-yard rusher (Mark Ingram II), which was in 2019, when he won his first NFL MVP award. Henry, 30, is one of only eight running backs to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a season, recording 2,027 and 17 touchdowns in 2020 when he was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. And while it remains to be seen how exactly the Ravens will deploy the bruising and speedy back in an offense that transitioned from a heavy ground-and-pound scheme under former offensive coordinator Greg Roman to a more spread-out attack under Todd Monken, Henry’s ability should make Baltimore much more potent. If nothing else, his presence should at least take some pressure off Jackson, who led the team in rushing again last season while throwing for a career-high 3,678 yards. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry talks with the media about the team’s offseason workout program at the Under Armour Performance center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry talks with the media about the team’s offseason workout program at the Under Armour Performance center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith talks with the media about the team’s offseason workout program at the Under Armour Performance center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith talks with the media about the team’s offseason workout program at the Under Armour Performance center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum talks with the media about the team’s offseason workout program at the Under Armour Performance center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum talks with the media about the team’s offseason workout program at the Under Armour Performance center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens head strength and conditioning coordinator Scott Elliott talks with the media about the team’s offseason workout program at the Under Armour Performance center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens strength and conditioning coordinator Scott Elliott talks with the media about the team’s offseason workout program at the Under Armour Performance center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Show Caption of Expand “Shoot, the guy’s very built and strong and fast,” Linderbaum said of Henry. “He’ll be a good addition for us.” Smith was even more bullish, calling the running back’s addition “huge,” and that he’ll help the team stick to what they do best. “Having a guy like that, anytime you need a play with him and Lamar back there, I think it’s gonna be crucial,” Smith said. “It’s gonna open up a lot for everyone. … It’s gonna be scary.” It’s also a change for Henry. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | ‘We’re standing up’: Former Ravens RB Willis McGahee pleased with latest ruling on NFL disability lawsuit Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens would be wise to target Ed Reed’s cousin, Trey Taylor, in NFL draft | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens signing Deonte Harty, 2019 All-Pro kick returner and former Archbishop Curley star Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens star Terrell Suggs arrested, charged with assault in Arizona after allegedly threatening to kill another driver Baltimore Ravens | Ravens draft will be more essential in 2024, offensive linemen abound and playmakers wanted | TAKEAWAYS After eight years with the Tennessee Titans and missing the playoffs each of the past two seasons with a combined 13-21 record, he’s excited about the opportunity to play alongside Jackson and for a team that had the NFL’s best record during the regular season last year. “Lamar’s a cool guy,” Henry said. “You can tell he’s a great leader by how everybody flocks to him. He has great energy as well. “His body of work speaks for itself.” As does Henry’s. Among his myriad accolades, about the only thing he hasn’t done is win — or even get to — a Super Bowl. Neither, of course, has Jackson. “I love playing this game,” Henry said when asked about his motivation at this point of his career. “I really want to hold that trophy up at the end of the year. It starts right now with putting the work in.” View the full article

Good stuff, Papa...thanks for posting. Sounds like a lot of OT talent in this draft even where we are drafting. I like McConkey, but not as our first pick. Right about not needing DL help now that Justin is with us for the long haul. Right now we're 3 offensive lineman short from last year. We should probably be drafting help there with our first and third (second?) picks.

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-mock-draft-qb-jayden-daniels-minnesota-vikings-at-no-3 https://www.nfl.com/news/rhett-lewis-2024-nfl-mock-draft-1-0-two-teams-trade-up-for-qbs-bears-pick-wr-at-no-9 I dont see this with Justin coming back.

https://www.nfl.com/news/gennaro-filice-2024-nfl-mock-draft-2-0-jets-go-get-rome-odunze-pats-raiders-trade-back-into-round-1 https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-j-j-mccarthy-nearly-falls-out-of-top-10-while-vikings-trade-back-twice-6-qbs-go-round-1/ WTH is with this pick? I would be very disapointed if this went down. As for a trade with LV and us getting the 44 pick. Throw in their 25 first round pick and I am in.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-afc-contenders-land-potential-steals-in-back-half-of-round-1-bears-pair-qb-with-top-wr/ I am seeing him more and more. https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/2024-nfl-mock-draft-two-rounds-dak-prescott-trade-broncos-qbs-caleb-williams-jj-mccarthy/

I havent done the research like in yrs past. I am taking the experts word at how loaded the class is.